WORCESTER — Tragedy struck the campus of Worcester State University in the early morning hours of Saturday when two people were shot, resulting in one fatality, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.
During a press conference held late Saturday morning, Early revealed that the individuals involved in the incident were acquainted with each other. The surviving victim underwent surgery and is expected to recover.
“Based on our current findings, this does not seem to be a random act. It appears that the parties involved had prior knowledge of each other,” stated Early.
The deceased victim’s identity has not been disclosed by Early as of Saturday.
The shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m., and Early confirmed that neither the victims nor the suspected assailants were students at the university.
According to Early, university police received reports of an ongoing altercation, during which they discovered the two victims with gunshot wounds.
Interim Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier, present at the conference, further revealed that an individual was arrested after being seen leaving the scene. A firearm was confiscated, and the person faces charges of trespassing and illegal possession of a firearm.
Early did not confirm whether the arrested person is a suspect in the shooting. However, he did mention that individuals of interest in the case have been captured on video.
A spokesperson for the district attorney reported at approximately 9:20 a.m. that the shelter-in-place order, implemented shortly after the shooting, has been lifted. However, people are advised to avoid the area under investigation by the police.
Until further notice, the Wasylean parking lot on the university campus will remain closed. Early emphasized that the shooting took place in an open area.
Due to the incident, Worcester State University will be closed on Saturday, and all campus events, including those scheduled for homecoming weekend and sporting activities, have been canceled.
The university has reported that the State Police Crime Scene Unit is present at the scene and has directed any further inquiries to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
Worcester State University Chief Jason Kapurch has reassured the community that the campus appears to be safe as of late Saturday morning.
District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday morning, stating that there is no immediate threat to the surrounding neighborhood.
Anyone with video or images from the parking lot in question is urged to report it to university staff and the police.
“We cannot stress enough how critical it is for the public to assist us in this matter. Your cooperation greatly aids our investigations and has been instrumental in numerous previous cases,” emphasized Early.
The university has announced that counseling services will be available on Saturday. Additionally, family and friends of affected students can go to the Wellness Center to pick them up.
This weekend was supposed to be homecoming weekend at Worcester State. However, all activities, including field hockey and football games, have been canceled.
As Saturday progressed, the campus gradually returned to a calm atmosphere. Students, joggers, and local residents walked along Chandler Street, where the campus is situated, enjoying the beautiful fall weather.
Police presence was noted at the north and south entrances, with officers stationed at the north entrance to assist incoming drivers with finding parking spaces.
Alyssa Felix and Janneli Soto, first-year students at Worcester State University, expressed their unease after receiving concerned messages from their family and friends regarding the shooting. Disappointed by the cancellation of homecoming weekend, they have decided to return home.
“When I woke up, my entire family was calling and asking if I was okay,” shared Felix.
The story is still unfolding. Stay tuned to telegram.com for more updates.
